Laryngoscope

US6676598B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Karl Storz GmbH & Co. KG · DE

Inventors

• Jurgen Rudischhauser · Tuttlingen, DE
• Martin Renner · Liptingen, DE
• Klaus Irion · Liptingen, DE
• Peter Schwarz · Tuttlingen, DE
• Helmut Wehrstein · Tuttlingen, DE
• Mark Kocher · Charlottesville, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Nov 21, 2001
• Grant date: Jan 13, 2004
• Expiry date: Feb 27, 2022

Classification

• Technology area (CPC A): Human Necessities
• CPC primary: A61B1/042
• WIPO field: Medical technology
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

A laryngoscope includes a handle, a spatula arranged substantially transverse to the handle, and a coupling detachably fixing the spatula to the handle. An illumination light waveguide guides an illumination light signal and an image waveguide guides an image signal, both waveguides being attached to the spatula. The illumination light waveguide includes a proximal end having an illumination light entry opening, and the image waveguide includes a proximal end having an image exit opening, wherein the illumination light entry opening and the image exit opening are arranged in the area of the coupling. The handle includes, in the area of the coupling, an illumination light exit opening and an image entry opening which allow for the illumination light signal to couple into the illumination light waveguide from the handle, and for the image signal to couple out of the image waveguide. A centering element automatically aligns the image entry opening and the image exit opening precisely to each other.